Representatives participating in the ongoing 28th session of the World Heritage Committee visited the Panmen scenic area this week and enjoyed a cruise on one of the picturesque canals in the 2,500-year-old city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, where the session is being held.

The cruise along the ancient canal took about 40 minutes. The representatives occupied 16 boats, and although it was nearly midnight after a long day, the water, fresh evening air and twinkling lights of the city seemed to restore their energy.

Before the canal cruise, the group visited Panmen Gate. Although less well known internationally than the Great Wall, in China there is an old adage that says, "In the north, the magnificence of the Great Wall; in the south, the elegance of Panmen Gate."

Panmen is actually two gates: an outer one in the water and an inner one on land. And elegant as it is, the gate made a very effective barrier to enemy attacks in days of yore. As old as the city itself, Panmen Gate is the best-preserved land/water gate in China today. Its image has become a symbol of Suzhou and is incorporated in the city's logo.

Panmen Gate, the Ruiguang (Auspicious Light) Pagoda and Wumen Bridge are known as the three most beautiful sights in Suzhou.

Siri Kloster, a representative from Norway, particularly enjoyed the Shuishang Penglai area. Extending out over the water and named after the fabled aquatic abode of immortals, the area hosts regular water town costume shows, exhibitions of local dance and acrobatics performances.

In front of the Sirui (Four Auspicious Merits) Hall, folk musicians were giving a concert. Meanwhile, on the western stage of the Panmen scenic area, Kunqu opera (an ancestor of Peking opera developed in the early Ming Dynasty) and pingtan (storytelling and ballad singing in Suzhou dialect) were shown. The dragon and lion dances, as well as land boat and clam dancing, drew exclamations of delight from the representatives.

"The programs are so exciting," said Kloster. "They are totally different from Norwegian culture."

A world heritage committee member from Saint Lucia couldn't resist the temptation to begin dancing himself. When he took a breather, he said, "The people here are gentlemen, disciplined and beautiful. And the city is clean."

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Li Jinhui, July 2, 2004)